shaleem,

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Have your wife see her PCP for the 25(OH)D lab test and to discuss the contents of this post.  25(OH)D is the serum level metabolite of vitamin D3.  The normal reference range for this lab test is 30 to 100 ng/mL, (75 to 250 nmol/L).

Nearly every cluster headache sufferer (CH'er) with active CH who has gone in for this lab test has had their results come back indicating a vitamin D3 deficient, i.e., a 25(OH)D serum concentration less than 30 ng/mL, (75 nmol/L).

What is even more interesting is 83% of these CH'ers who start the anit-inflammatory regimen with at least 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3, 1000 mg/day Omega-3 Fish Oil and all the vitamin D3 cofactors: calcium, magnesium, boron and vitamin A (retinol), experience a significant reduction in the frequency, severity and duration of their CH.   75% of the CH'ers who start this regimen experience several pain free days/week and 60% remain completely pain free.

To put a number on the term "significant," CH'ers who start this regimen averaging 21 attacks/week drop to an average of 3 attacks/week for an 85% reduction in the frequency of their CH.

Accordingly, if you're looking for a theory on cluster headache...  I'd start with a vitamin D3 deficiency as the empirical data collected from more than 400 CH'ers since December of 2010 suggest a causal relationship between a vitamin D3 deficiency and cluster headaches.

Data from the online survey of CHe'rs taking the anti-inflammatory regimen indicated the following results:

106 of the 127 CH'ers (83%), who completed the survey questionnaire reported significant reductions in frequency, severity and duration of their CH.  75% reported 24-hour pain free responses and 60% reported remaining substantially PF.  Average starting 25(OH)D serum concentration reported was 23.4 ng/mL. 

The average 25(OH)D serum concentration response reported after ≥30 days or a favorable response to this regimen was 78.5 ng/mL.  This regimen appears equally effective for both ECH and CCH, although ECH'ers enjoy a slightly higher efficacy of 85% vs. 70% for CCH.  This may be due to the ECH’er confusing end of cycle with a favorable response.

A stress test of 25(OH)D reserves conducted after 13 mo. PF, resulted in a return of CH after 8 days without vitamin D3.  33% reported comorbidities. There were no major adverse events requiring medical intervention reported. 

This recurrence of CH symptoms coincides with the drop in the serum concentration of 25(OH)D as its half-life is roughly 15 days.

The bottom line is your wive is likely vitamin D3 deficient and that deficiency likely contributing to the frequency, severity and duration of her cluster headaches.

This regimen appears equally effective for episodic and chronic CH'ers.  This regimen is also >95% effective for Migraineurs in preventing their headaches.

The "Go To" link with info on all the anti-inflammatory supplements, their doses, drug interactions and contraindications follows:

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The following table represents the latest list of anti-inflammatory regimen supplements and doses:

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I've found the following supplements shown by brand in the photo below are formulated with most of the supplements we need.  The vitamin B 50 is not shown...  I buy these supplements at Costco, but you should be able to find similar formulations at most Vitamin Shoppes, supermarkets, Wall-Mart or over the internet:

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Although this vitamin K complex isn't essential in preventing CH, it is needed to handle the increased serum calcium made available by taking vitamin D3 at the doses we take.

There are a growing number of studies finding the super K2 complex helps direct calcium away from soft tissues and arteries directing it instead to bones and teeth improving overall bone mineral density.

There are also a number of studies that have addressed the optimum ratio of calcium-magnesium supplements.  The general consensus is to keep these two supplements at a 1:1 ratio.

Most CH'ers who have started this regimen in the last year and had their 25(OH)D results come back below 30 ng/mL, have used the accelerated vitamin D3 dosing schedule and found it got them pain free faster than taking the maintenance dose of vitamin D3 at 10,000 IU/day...  The accelerated vitamin D3 dosing schedule follows:

Have your wife take 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3, two of the Omega-3 Fish Oil liquid softgel capsules and one each of the remaining supplements the first day.

If there's no allergic reaction to these supplements (very rare), have her take 20,000 IU/day vitamin D3 for the next two weeks.  Keep taking two each of the Omega-3 Fish Oil capsules, and the rest of the vitamin D3 cofactors.

In addition, for the first two weeks take a 50,000 IU loading dose (ten of the 5,000 IU vitamin D3 softgels) once a week on top of the daily dose for two weeks.  The day of the loading dose you'll be taking a total of 70,000 IU vitamin D3.

After two weeks on above vitamin D3 dosing schedule, stop taking the once a week loading dose and lower your daily vitamin D3 intake to 15,000 IU/day. Continue at this dose for another two weeks then lower the vitamin D3 intake to a maintenance dose of 10,000 IU/day.

If you total the vitamin D3 doses your wife will be taking 600,000 IU vitamin D3 over the 4 week period.  This should elevate her 25(OH)D serum concentration by 60 ng/mL, (150 nmol/L) above her starting level.  Assuming that starting level was less than 30 ng/mL, (75 nmol/L), her serum concentration should be around 85 ng/mL, (212 nmol/L).

If your wife is like most of the other CH'ers who start this regimen, she'll experience a favorable response within the first two weeks.  Migraineurs sail through their usual cycle times with nary a twinge...

Finally, the anti-inflammatory regimen is a preventative and not a cure...

Take care and please feel free to ask questions.

V/R, Batch

CWF,

Good move starting the anti-inflammatory regimen...  The odds are clearly in your favor you'll experience a favorable response...  likely within the first week to 10 days.

Please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch